Veteran PJFD volunteers will be grand marshals

Four longtime Port Jervis Fire Department volunteers will lead this year's parade as co-grand marshals in the parade's lead company, Tri-State Hose Company No. 6.

Sharon Siegel

Four longtime Port Jervis Fire Department volunteers will lead this year's parade as co-grand marshals in the parade's lead company, Tri-State Hose Company No. 6.

Ed Pavlich was born in Port Jervis and in March 1973 joined a family tradition of firefighting service by becoming a Port Jervis Fire Department volunteer.

Pavlich joined first as a social member, because of a 75-member per company restriction, which was full at the time. Pavlich's grandfather, Art Stempert, chose to go on active honorary status at that time to open an active firefighting spot for his then 23-year-old grandson.

"I broke family tradition and joined Tri-State Hose Company No. 6. My dad, Uncle Fred, and Bob Pavlich were all in Truck 7. My mom's side of the family — the Stemperts — were all in Hose 6."

Pavlich had just returned from a three-year enlistment in the U.S. Army, including

service in Vietnam.

He is proud that both of his sons, Ed Jr. and the late Brian Pavlich, also joined his company. His daughter Holly and granddaughter Marissa also help out with company events.

Tragically, Pavlich's son Brian, a staff sergeant in the Army, was killed along with six other soldiers in a helicopter crash in 2003.

Having served in most of the leadership roles in his company, including as captain for 12 years, secretary and now president, Pavlich has seen the requirements of being a volunteer firefighter become more intense and demanding. He has seen technologies evolve as even fires themselves have changed over time.

"Fires are hotter and more intense because of the different types of combustible oil-based products and byproducts used today," he said.

Among the more memorable calls Pavlich remembers is the Colonial Inn fire in 2004. Pavlich remembers checking each room of the historic inn to be sure no residents were inside.

"Fortunately, there was no one in the building, but I can tell you this was a situation where our training definitely paid off," Pavlich said. "We worked as a team, two from 5's and two from 6's, checking room by room in very heavy smoke and intense heat."

Still active at 63, Pavlich plans to remain a firefighter for as long as he is physically able.

Allan Cherry was born in Port Jervis in April 1945, raised in his hometown, and stayed to work and help his widowed mother run their household.

In 1963, at the age of 18, Cherry joined Port Jervis Fire Department's Tri-State Engine Company No. 6, which is located in the neighborhood where he was born and raised. At the time, his brothers Ed Cherry and Jake Cherry and their Uncle Edward Cherry were members of this company.

Cherry, a past captain of his company, said that having a commitment to one's community is rewarding personally. His family members, including wife, Linda, daughter, Beth, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, are proud of his service as a firefighter and his commitment to his community.

Richard Roberts is a former mayor of Port Jervis, former Orange County legislator, past city historian, retired teacher and principal in Port Jervis School District, currently a Realtor with Hawks Nest Realty, and has been a firefighter since 1986.

"My dad went on the honorary list to free up space for a younger firefighter, which is something that happened often in those days," Roberts said. "I knew all the members and grew up with most of their families that were in the company at the time."

During the 1970s and '80s, members often joined others from their own family, sometimes four or five from a family, to become firefighters in the neighborhoods where they lived. Today, generations of family service continues, but the number of volunteers is down, as seems to be the case in many departments.

Over the years, Roberts has seen the laws governing emergency services change and the number of hours required for schooling and training increase tremendously. Longtime volunteers frequently attribute the lower number of volunteers to these requirements.

"When I first joined, we needed 39 hours. Now the laws require much more," Roberts said. "However, the longtime friendships and associations with good people who are doing an excellent job protecting our community as volunteers is very rewarding and worth this time commitment."

Frank D. Bell, a lifelong resident of Port Jervis, has been involved in his community all of his life, including as a current member of the Port Jervis Common Council. He became a firefighter in 1962 at the age of 19.

"It is an outstanding fire department, with very dedicated volunteers," Bell said.

At the time that Bell joined the department, his father, John F. Bell, was a firefighter. So were many of his friends.

One of the most memorable calls he recalls responding to, in fact, was right on the street where he has also lived all of his life — North Maple Avenue.

"It was in the building right next to the bridge, Jimmy Duane's Point Hotel," Bell recalled. "It is a one-story building now, but at that time it had a second floor. I remember it well as it was a very large fire, and it was right on my street."

Like his fellow grand marshals, Bell recalls the days of being on a waiting list to join a fire company. While he acknowledged the challenges of meeting today's training requirements, he stressed the need for younger firefighters to join.

"We really need the younger members of our community to carry on the great work of this department," Bell said.